I am sorry for your loss.The Idea is nice but the composition needs a little improvment. this should be a horizontal shot with the bench on the right hand side.The angle should shift a little to the right.I would wait till sunset or rise and increase the shadow to the left. A very nice tribute.

Somehow this picture doesn't quite work for me. I think it is the 50/50 placement of the horizon and the bench. If the bench was on the 1/3 from the right and the sky was cropped such that the horizon was 1/3 from the top it may work better. The sky in this case is just to 'heavy' against the rest of the picture and detracts from focusing on the bench.

The vision is that of the photographer, not the critic, yet composition is always critically important, as it is the first impression of the viewer. Perhaps you have more? Technically, it's quite striking. Is this your poem? Do more of both.